S. Korea reports brain death linked to new flu

(ATTN: RECASTS lead with updated data; ADDS info from 2nd para)
SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- A female new flu patient in her 40s has been presumed
brain dead, Seoul officials said Friday, amid growing concerns that the H1N1
virus is spreading fast in South Korea.
The woman, a resident of the Seoul metropolitan area, tested positive for the
virus on Monday after showing high fever and other respiratory problems,
according to the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs.
Being treated with antiviral drugs, she seemed to be recovering but her health
conditions suddenly deteriorated as she developed cerebral edema and cerebral
hemorrhage before lapsing into brain death, the ministry said. Brain death is
expected to be officially pronounced within the day, it added.
The latest case added concerns that the new flu, which claimed lives of more than
3,000 people worldwide, is spreading fast in South Korea, once regarded as a safe
area from the disease.
South Korea has confirmed more than 4,000 cases of the flu infection. Most of
them have been recovered but four have lost their lives mostly to flu-caused
complications.
In a bid to stem its fast spread, the government said last week that it will
vaccinate around 10 million people against the virus by the end of this year.
Full-scale vaccination will begin in November with an aim to inoculate 27 percent
of the nation's 48-million population by February next year, it added.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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